Introduction

Docker has become a cornerstone of modern development and deployment — allowing developers to run applications in isolated, lightweight containers that are fast, portable, and easy to replicate.

If you’re using a VM6 Networks UK VPS, you already have a solid foundation for containerized workloads: ultra-fast Ryzen 9 processors, Gen4 NVMe SSD storage, and 10Gbps networking.

⚙️ Why Use Docker on a VPS?

  • Isolation – Run multiple apps or environments without conflicts.
  • Performance – VM6’s high-speed NVMe disks ensure containers start instantly.
  • Portability – Move containers between dev, staging, and production effortlessly.
  • Efficiency – Run multiple containers on one VPS with minimal overhead.
  • UK Hosting – Keep your infrastructure within the UK for low latency and GDPR compliance.

🔐 Prerequisites

You’ll need a VM6 VPS running Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, root/sudo access, and an updated system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Need a VPS? 👉 View VM6 UK VPS Plans

🐳 Step 1: Install Docker Engine

sudo apt remove docker docker-engine docker.io containerd runc
sudo apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release -y
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] \
https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin -y
docker --version

🧩 Step 2: Enable and Start Docker

sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl status docker

👤 Step 3: Run Docker Without Sudo

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

🧱 Step 4: Run Your First Container

docker run hello-world

If you see “Hello from Docker!” — your setup is successful.

🌐 Step 5: Deploy Nginx in a Container

docker run -d -p 80:80 --name web nginx

Visit http://your-vps-ip to see the Nginx welcome page.

⚡ Step 6: Useful Commands

docker ps
docker ps -a
docker images
docker stop web
docker rm web
docker system prune

🔒 Step 7: Securing Docker

  • Keep Docker updated
  • Use non-root users for containers
  • Configure a firewall (UFW)
  • Use Docker Compose for stacks
  • Back up regularly with VM6 snapshots

🚀 Why VM6 Networks Is Perfect for Docker

  • AMD Ryzen 9 7900 CPUs
  • DDR5 4800MHz RAM
  • Gen4 NVMe SSD Storage
  • 10Gbps UK Network
  • Multiple UK Datacentres

🧠 Final Thoughts

Docker makes deployment faster and easier — and with a VM6 UK VPS, you get the power, reliability, and speed to make the most of it.

Ready to start? 👉 Explore VM6 UK VPS Hosting

Written by VM6 Networks — Reliable UK VPS Hosting powered by AMD Ryzen 9 and Gen4 NVMe SSDs.